Romania lacks specialized burn centers despite international examples; new facilities are planned but delayed.
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Countries like Austria, Italy, and Croatia have specialized centers that treat severe burn patients and accept injured individuals from other nations. Ten years after the Colectiv tragedy, Romania lacks a major burn center, though the Minister of Health promises one will be ready by December. Three major burn centers are under construction in TimiÈ™oara, Târgu MureÈ™, and Bucharest (for children), but none are complete despite promises made over eleven years ago. The article details that Austria and Italy do not need to transfer their own severe burn patients abroad; instead, they often treat critical foreign patients. Romania has seen significant pressure from survivors and the public regarding its burn care capabilities. The Minister of Health stated that past delays were due to mere discussion rather than action, noting new centers are being built based on French standards. While official reports show thousands of burn cases annually in Romania, patient advocates doubt the three planned centers will be sufficient for the country’s needs. Currently, Romania transfers about 100 severe burn patients internationally between 2019 and 2025, primarily to Belgium, Germany, and Austria. Neighboring countries like Bulgaria and Croatia have established systems where they treat local cases and sometimes accept international patients. Greece has dedicated burn sections but lacks organized transfer mechanisms. Furthermore, a previously authorized major burn center at Floreasca Hospital was closed by the Minister of Health due to quality issues, with renovations planned for it to handle medium-complexity burns only.
